Carpet and floor vacuuming device with improved suction head

ABSTRACT

A carpet and floor vacuum device with an improved suction head is provided comprising a curved, fluorinated molding mounted on a vacuum cleaner head. The suction head is designed to move along the surface of the carpet, rather than penetrating into the carpet itself. The polymer molding defines a plurality of inlet perforations laterally-spaced along the curved surface, and the perforations are connected to an air-fed manifold. Following application of cleaning fluid to the carpet or floor, air is fed from the manifold into the carpet or onto the floor. Material including Ingested air, debris and spent liquid, are then removed from the carpet or from the floor and then returned to the perforations from the manifold. This material is then removed to a conventional vacuum collector, thereby drying out the carpet or floor. Use of a curved, fluorinated surface provides a smooth movement along the carpet surface without severely abrading the carpet fibers. When used either on a carpet or floor surface, an air buffer is formed between the suction head, thereby assisting in movement of the vacuuming device. In addition, use of a curved fluorinated surface further reduces abrasion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and improved liquid vacuuming device suitable for use on both carpets and floors. More specifically, this invention relates to a new and improved suction head having the capability of removing ingested air, debris and spent liquid from a carpet without penetration into the carpet itself. Also, the suction head is enabled to ride along and clean a floor surface without significant abrasion of the floor surface. The vacuuming device of this invention significantly reduces streaking frequently associated with present commercially available devices.

Typical devices used as carpet cleaners are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,624,668; 3,964,925; 3,708,824; 4,905,309; 4,161,802; 5,548,905; 5,655,255; 5,992,051; 6,266,892; and, 6,981,338. In addition, Applicant's U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 29/263,511; and, 29/266,082 may be considered.

However by and large, the U.S. Patents in question describe devices which penetrate into the carpet or fabric, and this penetration eventually results in a deterioration of individual carpet threads. Quite apart from anything else, the above U.S. Patents lack the capability of traversing and cleaning both a carpet and a floor.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a carpet and floor cleaning device with reduced cleaning streaks and reduced floor scratching.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carpet and floor cleaning device which is lighter in weight and hence more easily to manipulate than conventional carpet and floor cleaning devices.

THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a carpet and floor cleaning device providing a suction head for removing cleaning solution from a carpet or floor. The suction head comprises a molded, fluorinated polymer defining an array of perforations fed from a suction manifold. This construction and arrangement enables the manifold to provide a uniform and sufficient suction force across the perforation array so that the suction head can be moved across the surface of the carpet or floor without penetration into the fabric itself. Consequently, there is a significantly reduced contact with Individual carpet threads and hence much less thread wear. Furthermore, use of a fluorinated polymer provides a smoother movement across a carpet or floor surface without significant streaking or scratching. Also, since the exterior profile of the suction head is curved, rather than elongate, the possibility of abrasive contact with fabric threads or a floor is significantly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suction head of this invention mounted on a conventional carpet cleaning head;

FIG. 2 is an external end elevation view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an upper, perspective view of the suction head of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a view though a perforation of the suction head taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing suction flow movement; and,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the suction head along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The suction head 10 of this invention is shown in FIG. 1 fixed or rotatably mounted at the end 11 of a typical commercial carpet and floor cleaning device 12 by means of a snap-on attachment ledge 10a (FIG. 3). FIG. 2 shows the interior 13 as square-shaped to provide uniform flow characteristics for applied suction forces. An exterior view 14 of the suction head is shown defining a curved profile 15 which imparts a smooth contact with a carpet surface or floor with a minimum contact with individual fabric threads or a floor surface. The profile 15 is shown as being rounded, however other curved types may be utilized such as elliptical, parabolic, hyperbolic, etc. FIG. 5. shows suction forces applied to a manifold 16 which is fed from dual slots 17, 18 at each end of the suction head, the manifold contacting the surface of a carpet or surface of a floor; use of dual slots equalizes suction pressure within the manifold. A plurality of raised exhaust perforations 20 are formed on the molded suction head, and as shown in FIG. 4, the perforations are connected 21 with the end 11 of the carpet cleaning device. A space 22 is defined at each end of the manifold to seal off the interior of the suction head 10.

The preferred material of construction is a fluorinated polymer, and the preferred embodiment is polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). Other fluorinated polymers may be utilized, and many are disclosed in the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY by Kirk-Othmer, Volume 11, Third Edition (1980) published by John Wiley & Sons, and incorporated by reference, herein. Other typical fluorinated polymers mentioned include fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymers; ethylene-tetrafluoro copolymers; TEFLON PFA (combined PTFE with a perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) side chain) I.e., tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ethers; polychlorotrifluoroethylene; and, poly (fluoro silicones). Possibly, polyvinylidene fluoride (KYNAR) may become available. The PTFE may be unfilled, or filled to impart increased resistance to corrosive cleaning liquids; also, the PTFE may be molded, or it can be machined. While the preferred material of construction is a solid, fluorinated molded polymer, it might be possible to construct the suction head of a fluorinated molded polymer mounted on a metal substrate, or by coating a metal substrate; however, this would appear to constitute an added expense.

Typical suction head lengths vary from about 4.40″-14″, although lengths outside this range may be used. A 9.00″ length of suction head, using fifteen perforations (FIG. 5) would have a diameter of about 0.188″, and each perforation is spaced apart by 0.244″. A set of three perforations is spaced by slots 23 having a length of 0.327″. The total perforation and slot area is 0.685 square inches.

For a suction head 4.40″ long with 12 perforations in sets of three (3) perforations, each perforation has a diameter of 0.125″, and they are spaced apart by 0.176″; each set of perforations are spaced apart by slots 0.352′ long. The total area of slots and perforations is 0.279 square inches.

Obviously, different lengths of suction heads would employ different diameters of perforations, different lengths between perforations and different spacing lengths between each set of perforations. As another example, a suction head 10.00″ in length could employ fifteen (15) perforations, each perforation having a diameter of about 0.188″, and each perforation being spaced apart 0.295″; the slots have a length of 0.590″ spacing between each set of three perforations similar to FIG. 5. The total area of perforations and slots is 1.083 square inches.

Furthermore, there is no specific requirement that three sets of perforations be used, and for example, two to five sets of perforations 20 might be utilized. A combined perforation and slot areas would total about 0.25″-1.25″ square inches.

During operation, the manifold 16 functions to apply suction forces into the carpet or onto a floor causing the removal of material such as ingested air commingled with debris and spent cleaning liquid. This material is then passed through the perforations 20 and returned to the vacuum head 11 to which they are connected 21 (FIG. 4) for forwarding to a conventional disposal collector (not shown) connected to the floor cleaning device 12.

Typically, the suction forces applied to the suction head 10 of this invention are about 30″-220″ of water lift, which is equivalent to 2″ Hg-2.5″ Hg.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the exhaust perforations 20 are spaced from the carpet or floor surface, and hence the possibilities of the perforations penetrating into the carpet itself, or becoming entangled with the carpet fibers, are greatly reduced.

The suction head of this invention provides a durable construction which is highly resistant to corrosive cleaning liquids and enables a low friction movement across the surface of a carpet or floor, without significant streaking or scratching due to its construction of a fluorinated polymer. Equally important, since the suction head moves across the carpet surface (either as a fixed head or rotatably mounted), rather than penetrating into the carpet, abrasion with the carpet or Individual fabric threads are significantly reduced. 

1. A light weight suction head for a carpet and floor cleaning device, comprising: a curved, fluorinated molded component defining a lower, central manifold defined on the molded component adjacent a carpet or floor and designed and constructed to apply suction force to remove ingested air, spent cleaning fluid and debris from the carpet and floor surface during a cleaning operation, the curved portion and manifold of the suction head being adapted for air buffering movement along the surface of the carpet or floor without significant penetration into the carpet, and with a minimum of fabric or fabric thread abrasion or floor scratching, the manifold defining a plurality of suction orifices laterally-spaced along the manifold, including raised perforations and slots which are connected to the carpet or floor cleaning device through which ingested air, spent cleaning fluid and debris are removed.
 2. The suction head of claim 1, in which the molded component includes machining and extrusion molding.
 3. The suction head of claim 1, in which the fluorinated component is selected from the class consisting of: polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-tetrafluoro copolymers, tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ethers, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, and poly (fluoro) silicones.
 4. The suction head of claim 1, in which the molded fluorinated component is mounted or coated on a metal substrate
 5. The suction head of claim 1, in which the length of the suction head varies from about 4.4″-14″.
 6. The suction head of claim 5, in which a combined area of perforations and slots is about 0.25″-1.25″.
 7. The suction head of claim 5, in which the suction force on the suction head is equivalent to about 2″ Hg-2.5″ Hg.
 8. The suction head of claim 1, in which the interior of the suction head is square-shaped, and the exterior profile is round-shaped. 